Spiked Bean Exchange takes home $1,000 at The Launching

This week, the Olivet College student created business, Spiked Bean Exchange took home the top prize at The Launching. The Launching is similar to The Hatching event and offers the opportunity for Olivet College students to pitch their startup business ideas to a panel of investors and fellow entrepreneurs for a $1,000 prize.

The Spiked Bean Exchange created by Haley Willet is a coffee bar that offers artisan drinks and ability to add liquor to a cup of coffee.

“We are delighted to congratulate Haley Willet on winning the inaugural “Launching” business idea competition,” shared an enthusiastic Michael Oyster, founder of the Global Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, and Chairman of the Business and Economics Division of Olivet College. “We were blown away by each of the finalist presenters who did a fantastic job pitching their business ideas to the crowd and judges. Haley is a true entrepreneur; she has done the job, researched the market, tested and gotten feedback. Next step is Launching the business and success! We thank our partners, including The Lamplighter, LEAP, Loomis, NEO Center, and Super Web Pros who together, provide those with new business ideas a solid professional launching pad into the future.”

“LEAP was proud to partner with Olivet College to put on their first business pitch competition, The Launching. The students and teams who presented were some of the most confident and prepared we’ve seen in our region. They came with there ‘A’ game and made for tough decision for our judges,” said Tony Willis, Director of the New Economy Division of LEAP.

Olivet College and LEAP plan to continue to hold other Launching competitions in the future. For more information on The Hatching, please visit www.thehatching.org. The next Hatching event will take place on April 28, 2016 at Dublin Square in East Lansing.